“That would be a blow because Lallana has been up there as one of Liverpool’s best three players this season, but they can just bring in Gini Wijnaldum – or even Daniel Sturridge, who has scored on his last two appearances against Saints.

“And I don’t think it would be a bad thing to reduce the number of former Southampton players facing their old club – Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne should all still start, even if Lallana doesn’t.

“I remember playing against Brighton after I had joined Liverpool and I was in danger of trying too hard because I wanted to prove why I had left. My game suffered because of it.

“Southampton’s form has dipped a bit in the past few weeks and they have only taken one point from three games.

“That is typical – it came just after I had said that their two centre-backs, Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte, and the goalkeeper Fraser Forster are as good as anyone in the league.”

Lallana, 28, has impressed fans and pundits alike this season with three goals and five assists coming in 12 appearances for the Reds.

He has been pivotal to Liverpool’s good start to the campaign and will be a huge loss as Klopp’s side look to extend their one point lead over second placed Chelsea.